I just got back! First off, I saw one of the annoying "anyone got a ticket" people! Balding, chubby man with glasses, looks semi-homeless. (Sorry, had to mention him after reading the thread on here!)

On to the show - Edie Falco should play all the parts. She was stunning - pathetic, funny, real. The rest of the cast, with the exception of the movie star and the nuns, was mediocre at best, with Jennifer Jason Leigh turning in a painfully bland and unfunny performance.

The woman sitting next to me opined, "She has no crackle, no spark" and the awesome queen sitting in front of us turned around and said, "She's not ****ing funny!" I found myself checking out the painting on the walls of the theater when Leigh was talking - she was really that poor. I think she'd have fared better if the roles had been switched, and she'd been the schizophrenic housewife. As it was, line after funny line sailed by in silence, one lead balloon after another.

Stiller was mainly angry and unlikeable - he should also be pathetic, and inspire sympathy in the audience, but he was pretty one-note angry. You need to feel the character's desperation, and Stiller doesn't have that yet.

Mainly, aside from Falco, the production is lifeless. A shame, as it's one of my favorite plays!

I agree with pennydreadful. Falco was wonderful, but Leigh was just annoying and unfunny. I also had some trouble hearing her. I liked the play well enough, but think that I would have warmed to it more with solid performances all around. I did find the final moment stunning and was glad to have been surprised by the ending.

Tonight was sold out (or heavily papered), so my TDF ticket was in the last row of the mezzanine. It could have been worse - there was a teeny balcony above us, with people peering over the lights! I was pretty far away from the action, but the sight lines were good. Everyone around me was a TDF ticket, as well.

Crap, I can't remember the running time - 2 hours and 15 minutes, maybe? Not that long, and it has an intermission.

It's worth seeing, just for Edie Falco. I'm sure it will tighten up as previews continue, and I hope Stiller finds his mojo - I know he can do it!

Hopefully Leigh will get laryngitis and an understudy will replace her. That sounded mean - I don't actually want bad things to happen to her, I just don't want her to be onstage in this. She's got a major part, and drags the whole thing down.

I've felt like Jennifer Jason Leigh was horribly miscast from the day her involvement in this production was announced. A zany comedic role like Bunny could not be further from what she does well, even though there are definitely dark subtleties there that need to be explored. Someone like Allison Janney or Jennifer Coolidge would have been a lot more appropriate (and certainly a lot more fun.)

While I have no doubt that Edie Falco will make for an absolutely stunning Bananas, I actually would have been interested to see what she would have done with Bunny. It's a little more out of the box for her, but I think maybe that's why I find the idea so intriguing. There's literally nothing she can't do.

Anyone care to list the understudies?

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

A grand total of 2 people have commented on the first preview and posters as experienced and sophisticated as MichaelBennett already believe that the production "at the very least" needs some more time. I love boards like this but I find they're becoming increasingly toxic as first audience members (in this case 2 of them) set the tone for a production's reputation.

My favorite productions and performances are rarely unanimously praised. Joseph Papp said "If no one walks out, you aren't doing your job right." In this climate, it seems the opposite is becoming true. If not everyone thinks it's wonderful, immediately there are aarghs, and eeks and ah wells.

As for Jennifer Jason Leigh, I found her adorably funny in The Big Picture and Miami Blues. I was in the minority in appreciating her performances in Cabaret and Proof and agree that she doesn't seem perfectly cast in this but that's part of why I'm excited to see it. Cromer likes to go against expectation in his shows and that's what, for me, is the draw with revivals like Our Town and Blue Leaves.

After the chorus of disapproval here, I'm still hoping against hope for a good time.

Personally, I don't find these boards toxic...nor do I think the posters on this thread are being particularly unkind, just honest in their reactions. I tend to take everything I read here with the proverbial grain of salt, but I think the exchange of opinions in general is terrific.

I just bought tickets yesterday and they're in the "teeny" balcony.....now I'm kinda nervous and I have this vision that we'll be sitting on a 2 x 4 suspended from the ceiling next to the hot lights....please someone tell me that these seats aren't that bad!!!

I have wonderful memories of this show from when it was on PBS years ago...so I'm hoping this version is just as good. Swoosie Kurtz is a big act to follow.....but I have high hopes for Edie Falco.

Someone on ATC who had a TDF ticket was seated in Row B of the mezz on the extreme side.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Chris, you will totally have a good time. Edie Falco, and nuns coming in off the roof - I didn't like most of the performances and was up in the nosebleed section, but I still had a good time! It's a great play.

Donte, you are high up, but not on a 2 X 4!

I was there on opening night of previews, so the house was sold out. I bet future nights won't necessarily be sold out, especially during the week, so TDF tickets will probably be better than mine was. Orchestra or front mezz.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this play progresses through previews.

I had seat thru TDF last night and was in the center mezz Row C, the people next to me and the couple in front of me got their tickets thru TDF as well. Since they went up for sale so close to the date it sounds like they are offering their remaining seats in the mezz thru TDF.

Not knowing much about the show going I enjoyed it. I am going to see it again next mont, I am sure it will only get better. My seats then will be closer to the stage so it will be nice to see all the facial expressions.

Falco is definitely the wow in this show, she is awesome. thismyshow, Allison Pill does not play a big part, but I thought she played it well.